Despite the fact that the majority of designers are moving towards minimalist investment pieces since Pheobe Philo's 'Philo Effect' two seasons ago, it's refreshing to see 'Project Runway' winner Christian Siriano stick to his guns and go all-out. And it looks like buyers are happy to see his larger the life designs too. “Our customers are crazy about him and his clothes,” said Ken Downing, the fashion director of Neiman Marcus to The New York Times. “They love when he comes into the store, because evening wear is where he excels."
In his show notes the designer said that this season he was interested in "African, Indian and Chinese influences mixed with measures of elegant opulence". This translated on skin tight red animal print wide leg trousers and dresses in an earthy orange on what resembled traditional African prints. Just in case the reference wasn't clear enough, a classic trench coat and skirt were reworked, sporting a giraffe print which also appeared on a blue and brown top styled with brown leather shorts and on one of Siriano's signature dramatic eveningwear gowns. And accessories were just as exotic, with the shoes - named the Shanghai, the Mumbai, the Nairobi and the Zanzi - looking like African artwork.
